[0001] The present invention relates to chemical compounds, pharmaceutical compositions,
and to a method of use of the compounds for the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals.
More particularly, the present invention is concerned with certain 1,2,5,6- tetrahydro-1-substituted
3- or 4-pyridine oximes, to pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds,
and to a method of use for the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals for the treatment
of the following disorders.
[0002] Disorders of cognition are generally characterized by symptoms of forgetfulness,
confusion, memory loss, attentional deficits and/or, in some cases, affective disturbances.
These symptoms may arise as a result of the general aging process and/or from organic
brain disease, cerebrovascular disease, head injury or developmental or genetic defects.
[0003] The general decrease in cognitive function which accompanies the aging process is
well accepted. The same phenomenon has been observed and documented in many lower
mammals, including those routinely employed in pharmacological testing programs for
screening and predicting usefulness for particular drugs in higher animals, including
humans.
[0004] Although disorders of cognition often accompany the general aging process, presenile
and senile primary degenerative dementia are the most common accepted causes of mental
deterioration in the elderly. It has been estimated that at least ten percent of persons
over sixty years of age will eventually suffer severe mental deterioration. A much
larger number will experience cognitive decline of sufficient severity to impede their
activities.
[0005] Many of the symptoms of cognitive disorders, especially impaired memory, are associated
with decreased acetylcholine synthesis and the impairment of cholinoreceptive neurons.
In the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of patients suffering from primary degenerative
dementia for example, the level of the enzyme choline acetyltransferase (CAT) can
be reduced by as much as ninety percent. (See Davies et al.,
The Lancet, 1976 (Vol. 2): 1403; Perry et al.,
J. Neurol. Sci., 34: 247-265 (1977); and white et al.,
The Lancet, 1977 (Volume 1): 668-670).
[0006] Since CAT catalyzes the synthesis of acetylcholine from its precursors choline and
acetyl coenzyme A, the loss of CAT reflects the loss of cholinergic, or acetylcholine-releasing,
nerve endings in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. There is abundant evidence that
cholinergic terminals in the hippocampus are critically important for memory formation.
[0007] The cholinergic hypothesis suggests that drugs which restore acetylcholine levels
or which mimic the action of acetylcholine (i.e. are cholinomimetic) are effective
in correcting this deficit in neurotransmitter chemical and provide treatment of the
memory impairment symptom of cerebral insufficiency. Considerable biochemical, pharmacological,
and electrophysiological evidence supports the hypothesis that deficits in the cholinergic
system underlie geriatric cognitive dysfunction. (See C. Peterson and G. E. Gibson,
Neurobiol. Aging, 4: 25-30 (1983)). Aged humans and non-human primates with decreased cognition show
improved memory when they are treated, for example, with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
such as physostigmine. These agents increase the available supply of synaptic acetylcholine
by inhibiting its hydrolysis.
[0008] Aminopyridines such as 3,4-diaminopyridine ameliorate age-related cognitive deficits
by increasing the release of acetylcholine from presynaptic nerve terminals, thus
increasing synaptic acetylcholine. (See H. P. Davis et al.,
Exp. Aging Res., 9: 211-214 (1983)).
[0009] It has been known for some time that the natural alkaloid, muscarine, has the ability
to act relatively selectively at autonomic effector cells to produce qualitatively
the same effects as acetylcholine. Two related alkaloids, pilocarpine and arecoline,
have the same principal sites of action as muscarine and acetylcholine and are thus
classified as having "muscarinic" action. Although these naturally occurring alkaloids
are of great value as pharmacological tools, present clinical use is largely restricted
to the use of pilocarpine as a miotic agent.
[0010] Arecoline (the methyl ester of 1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methyl-3-pyridinecarboxylic
acid) is the chief alkaloid found in betel nuts (
Areca catechu). Betel nuts have been chewed by natives of the East Indies since early times as
a euphoretic. The present pharmaceutical utility of arecoline, however, has been limited
to its use as a veterinary anthelmintic agent.
[0011] Recently it has been demonstrated that arecoline is effective in ameliorating some
of the symptoms of cognitive disorders in patients clinically diagnosed as having
presenile primary degenerative dementia. Significant improvement was observed in a
test of picture recognition after administration of arecoline to patients in a double
blind study. (See Christie et al.,
Brit. J. Psychiatry, 138: 46-50 (1981)).
[0012] Certain 3- or 4-ketoximes of 1-(lower alkyl)-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridines in which
the oxygen is unsubstituted are disclosed in United States Patent 3,004,979, having
utility as parasympathomimetic agents acting on non-striated muscle.
[0013] Regarding analgesia, the literature indicates that acetylcholine and muscarine agonists
possess antinociceptive activity (see T. T. Chau et al.,
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 222: 612-666 (1982),; W. L. Dewey et al.,
Life Sci., 17: 9-10 (1975); and N. W. Pedigo et al.,
Neurosci. Lett., 26: 85-90 (1981) and references cited therein).
[0014] The present invention provides a method of use of a compound of formula 1 for the
manufacturing of pharmaceuticals for treating the symptoms of cognitive decline in
the elderly:

wherein the

NOH may be attached to the tetrahydropyridine moiety at either carbon atom number
3 or 4 of the tetrahydropyridine ring system, and the attachment of the OH group to
the nitrogen atom is configured either
syn- or
anti- to the tetrahydropyridine ring.
[0015] The substituent group R₁ is hydrogen; straight or branched alkyl of from one to six
carbon atoms optionally substituted with hydroxy or alkoxyl of from one to four carbon
atoms; straight or branched alkenyl of from one to six carbon atoms optionally substituted
with hydroxy or alkoxyl of from one to four carbon atoms;
straight or branched alkynyl of from one to six carbon atoms optionally substituted
with hydroxy or alkoxyl of from one to four carbon atoms; cycloalkyl of from three
to eight carbon atoms;

where A is a bond or is a hydrocarbon chain of from one to four carbon atoms and
when containing two or more carbon atoms may contain one double bond and where R₃
is alkyl of from one to six carbon atoms, optionally substituted with halogen;

where n is zero to four and X and Y are independently selected from hydrogen, fluorine,
chlorine, bromine, hydroxy, straight or branched alkyl of from one to three carbon
atoms, or alkoxyl of from one to four carbon atoms.
[0016] R₂ is selected from hydrogen; straight or branched alkyl of from one to six carbon
atoms optionally substituted with hydroxy or alkoxyl of from one to four carbon atoms;
straight or branched alkenyl of from one to six carbon atoms optionally substituted
with hydroxy or alkoxyl of from one to four carbon atoms; straight or branched alkynyl
of from one to six carbon atoms optionally substituted with hydroxy or alkoxyl of
from one to four carbon atoms; cycloalkyl of from three to six carbon atoms; or

where n is zero, two, three or four and X and Y are independently selected from hydrogen,
fluorine, chlorine, bromine, hydroxy, straight or branched alkyl of from one to three
carbon atoms, or alkoxyl of from one to four carbon atoms; alkylcarbonyl of from two
to twelve carbon atoms; alkenylcarbonyl of from three to twelve carbon atoms; alkynylcarbonyl
of from three to twelve carbon atoms; or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition
salt thereof.
[0017] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of use of an analgesically
effective amount of a compound of formula 1 above in combination with a pharmaceutically
acceptable carrier for the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals for treating pain in a
mammal in need of such treatment.
[0018] In another aspect, the present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions for
treating the symptoms of cognitive decline in the elderly comprising administering
an effective amount of a compound of formula 1 above in combination with a pharmaceutically
acceptable carrier.
[0019] In yet another aspect, the present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions
useful as analgesic agents comprising an analgesically effective amount of a compound
as defined above in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
[0020] The compounds of the present invention comprise a class of 1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1substituted
3- or 4-pyridine oximes and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts which are centrally
acting muscarinic agents and which are thus useful as analgesic agents, sleep aids,
or therapeutic agents for treating cholinergic deficit states such as senile dementia,
Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's chorea, tardive dyskinesia, hyperkinesia, mania
or similar conditions of cerebral insufficiency characterized by decreased cerebral
acetylcholine production or release.
[0021] The substituent group R₁ in structural formula
1 above is selected from hydrogen; straight or branched alkyl of from one to six carbon
atoms optionally substituted with hydroxy or alkoxyl of from one to four carbon atoms;
straight or branched alkenyl of from one to six carbon atoms optionally substituted
with hydroxy or alkoxyl of from one to four carbon atoms; straight or branched alkynyl
of from one to six carbon atoms optionally substituted with hydroxy or alkoxyl of
from one to four carbon atoms; cycloalkyl of from three to eight carbon atoms;

where A is a bond or a hydrocarbon chain of from zero to four carbon atoms and when
containing two or more carbon atoms may contain one double bond and R₃ is alkyl of
from one to six carbon atoms, optionally substituted with halogen;

where n is zero to four and X and Y are independently selected from hydrogen, fluorine,
chlorine, bromine, hydroxy, straight or branched alkyl of from one to three carbon
atoms, or alkoxyl of from one to four carbon atoms.
[0022] The term "alkyl of from one to six carbon atoms" denotes a substituent group derived
from a saturated hydrocarbon by removal of a single hydrogen atom. The term includes
methyl, ethyl,
n-propyl,
iso-propyl,
n-butyl,
sec-butyl,
iso-butyl,
tert-butyl, and the various isomeric forms of pentyl and hexyl. Likewise, the terms "alkenyl
of from one to six carbon atoms" and "alkynyl of from one to six carbon atoms" denote
substituent groups derived, respectively, from alkene or alkyne hydrocarbons by the
removal of a single hydrogen atom. These terms include ethenyl, ethynyl, propenyl,
propynyl, and similar branched and unbranched unsaturated hydrocarbon groups of up
to six carbon atoms.
[0023] The term "cycloalkyl of from three to eight carbon atoms" denotes saturated carbocyclic
rings such as cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, as well as alkyl substituted
carbocyclic rings containing up to eight carbon atoms such as methyl-, dimethyl-,
and ethylcyclohexyl.
[0024] The term "alkoxyl" denotes a substitent group derived by removal of the hydrogen
from the oxygen atom of a saturated alcohol and attached to the parent molecular moiety
through the oxygen atom. such groups include methoxyl, ethoxyl, 1- and 2-propoxyl,
and similar branched and unbranched alkoxyl groups of up to four carbon atoms.
[0025] The terms "alkylcarbonyl," "alkenylcarbonyl," and "alkynylcarbonyl" denote susbstituent
alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl groups as previously defined, attached to the parent molecular
moiety through a carbonyl group.
[0026] In compounds of the present invention, the substituent group R₂ is selected from
hydrogen; straight or branched alkyl of from one to six carbon atoms optionally substituted
with hydroxy or alkoxyl of from one to four carbon atoms; straight or branched alkenyl
of from one to six carbon atoms optionally substituted with hydroxy or alkoxyl of
from one to four carbon atoms; straight or branched alkynyl of from one to six carbon
atoms optionally substituted with hydroxy or alkoxyl of from one to four carbon atoms;
cycloalkyl of from three to six carbon atoms;

where n is zero to four and X and Y are independently selected from hydrogen, fluorine,
chlorine, bromine, hydroxy, straight or branched alkyl of from one to three carbon
atoms, or alkoxyl of from one to four carbon atoms; alkylcarbonyl of from two to
twelve carbon atoms; alkenylcarbonyl of from three to twelve carbon atoms; or alkynylcarbonyl
of from three to twelve carbon atoms.
[0027] Preferred compounds for use in the pharmaceutical methods of the present invention
are those in which R₁ and R₂ are alkyl.
[0028] The compounds employed in the method of this invention may exist in either of two
isomeric forms in which the hydrogen atom of the oxime group may be either
syn- or
anti- with respect to the tetrahydropyridine ring. The present invention includes both
forms of the compounds as well as mixtures of the
syn- and
anti- forms. Moreover, in those compounds in which there is a double bond in a carbon chain,
both the Z (i.e. cis-) and E (i.e. trans) forms are included in the present invention.
The terms
syn- and
anti- as they apply to the compounds of the present invention are illustrated by formulas
1a and
1b:

[0029] Examples of compounds contemplated as falling within the scope of the present invention
include, but are not limited to the following:
1-(1,2,5,6-Tetrahydro-1-methyl-3-pyridinyl)-1-pentanone oxime.
1-(1,2,5,6-Tetrahydro-1-methyl-3-pyridinyl)-1-propanone oxime.
1-(1,2,5,6-Tetrahydro-1-methyl-3-pyridinyl)ethanone oxime.
1,2,5,6-Tetrahydro-1-methyl-3-pyridinecarboxaldehyde oxime.
2-Methyl-1-(1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methyl-3-pyridinyl)-1-propanone oxime.
1-(1,2,5,6-Tetrahydro-1-methyl-3-pyridinyl)-4-penten-1-one oxime.
4-Methoxy-1-(1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methyl-3-pyridinyl)-1-butanone oxime.
3-Phenyl-1-(1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methyl-3-pyridinyl)-1-propanone oxime.
1-[1,2,5,6-Tetrahydro-1-(1-methylethyl)3-pyridinyl]ethanone oxime.
1-(1-Ethyl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-3-pyridinyl)ethanone oxime.
1-(1,2,5,6-Tetrahydro-1-methyl-3-pyridinyl)-3-butyn-1-one oxime.
1-[1,2,5,6-Tetrahydro-1-(2-propenyl)-3-pyridinyl]ethanone oxime.
Phenyl(1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methyl-3-pyridinyl)methanone oxime.
1-[1-Cyclopentyl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-3-pyridinyl]ethanone oxime.
3-Phenyl-1-(1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-propyl-3-pyridinyl)-1-propanone oxime.
1-(1,2,5,6-Tetrahydro-3-pyridinyl)ethanone oxime.
1-(1,2,5,6-Tetrahydro-1-methyl-3-pyridinyl)-4-hexyn-1-one oxime.
1-(1,2,3,6-Tetrahydro-4-pyridinyl)ethanone oxime.
[0030] Compounds of the present invention are prepared by the general synthetic method detailed
in Reaction Sequence 1, following.
[0031] Referring to the Reaction Sequence, the starting 3- or 4-ketopyridines,
5, are prepared by one of three alternative methods. In the first method, the known
3- or 4-pyridinecarbonitriles,
2, are reacted in the conventional manner with the desired alkyl lithium compound or
the appropriate Grignard reagent in an aprotic solvent such as diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran,
dioxane or the like, followed by hydrolysis in dilute aqueous acid. In the second
method, the known 3- or 4-pyridinecarbonyl chlorides,
3 are reacted in the usual manner with the desired alkyl lithium compound in the presence
of a copper(I) halide.

[0032] In the third alternative method, the known 3- or 4-pyridine- carboxaldehydes,
4, from which the aldoximes may be prepared directly, are reacted in the usual manner
with the desired Grignard reagent followed by oxidation of the carbinol thus produced
by manganese dioxide or by the method of D. Swern, et al.,
J. Org. Chem., 43: 2480-2482 (1978).
[0033] The 3- or 4-ketopyridines,
5 thus produced, are reacted with a diol such as ethanediol in the presence of acid
to produce the 3- or 4-pyridineketals,
6. The ketals,
6, are converted by the action of the desired alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, or aralkyl halide
(preferably the iodide) to the corresponding
N-substitutedpyridinium ketals,
7. The
N-substitutedpyridinium ketals,
7, are subsequently reduced by the action of an alkali metal hydride, such as sodium
borohydride, to produce the
N-substituted 3- or 4-ethylenedioxyketal-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridines,
8.
[0034] The 3- or 4-ethylenedioxyketal-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridines,
8, are next converted to the corresponding
N-substituted 3- or 4-keto-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridines,
9, by the action of aqueous acid. The 3- or 4-keto-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridines,
9, are then reacted with hydroxylamine hydrochloride in, for example, methanol under
reflux for a period sufficient to effect the formation of the corresponding oximes,
10.
[0035] Alternatively, the unsubstituted oximes,
13, are converted to the corresponding
N-substituted pyridinium iodides by reaction with the desired iodide. These pyridinium
salts are reduced by the action of sodium borohydride, generally in a mixed water/alcohol
medium at ambient temperature, to produce the
N-substituted 3- or 4-oximino-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine compounds of the present
invention.
[0036] By virtue of the basic nitrogen atom in the tetrahydropyridine ring, the compounds
of the present invention form pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts with
organic and inorganic acids. Examples of suitable acids for the formation of pharmaceutically
acceptable salts are hydrochloric, sulfuric, phosphoric, acetic, benzoic, citric,
malonic, salicylic, malic, fumaric, oxalic, succinic, tartaric, lactic, gluconic,
ascorbic, maleic, aspartic, benzenesulfonic, methane- and ethanesulfonic, hydroxymethane-
and hydroxyethanesulfonic, and the like. (See for example, "Pharmaceutical Salts,"
J. Pharm. Sci. 66 (1): 1-19 1977)).
[0037] In a similar manner, the
N-lower-alkyl and lower-dialkyl tetrahydropyridinium salts may be used in the method
of this invention as, for example the
N-methyl-,
N,
N-dimethyl- and
N-ethyl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro- pyridinium halides.
[0038] The acid addition salts are prepared by contacting the free base form of the compounds
of this invention with a sufficient amount of the desired acid to produce the salt
in the conventional manner. The free base forms may be regenerated, if desired, by
treating the salt form with a base. For example, dilute aqueous solutions of such
bases as sodium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, ammonia, and sodium bicarbonate may
be utilized for this purpose.
[0039] The free acid or base forms of the compounds of this invention differ somewhat from
their respective salt forms in such physical properties as melting point and solubility
in polar solvents, but the salts are otherwise equivalent to their respective free
acid or base forms for the purposes of the invention.
[0040] The compounds of the present invention are centrally acting muscarinic agents and
are thus useful as analgesic agents for the treatment of pain in mammals including
man, as sleep aids, and as agents for treating the symptoms of senile dementia, Alzheimer's
disease, Huntington's chorea, tardive dyskinesia, hyperkinesia, mania or similar conditions
of cerebral insufficiency characterized by decreased cerebral acetylcholine production
or release.
[0041] The compounds of the present invention may also be co-administered when desired with
anticholinergic agents, for example, atropine, methylatropine, glycopyrrolate, scopolamine,
methylscopolamine, propantheline, pirenzepine, and AF-DX-116, to reduce cholinergic
side effects.
[0042] The biological activity of compounds of the present invention was evaluated using
a number of tests. The activity of compounds of this invention as central muscarinic
binding site agonists and antagonists was measured. In the RQNB screening assay, which
is described more fully by Mark Watson, et al,
J. Pharmacol. and Exp. Ther., 237 (2): 411 1986, rat cerebral cortex tissue was treated with radio-labeled quinuclidinyl
benzilate, a known muscarinic binding site antagonist. The percent inhibition at a
given concentration or concentrations of test compound required to inhibit 50% of
the binding of this muscarinic antagonist were then determined.
[0043] Similarly, in the RCMD screening assay, described more fully by T. W. Vickeroy et
al.,
J. Pharmacol. and Exp. Ther., 229 (3): 747 (1984), rat cerebral cortex tissue was treated with radio-labeled
cis-methyldioxolane, a known muscarinic binding site agonist. The percent inhibition
at given concentrations or concentrations of test compounds required to inhibit 50%
of the binding of this muscarinic agonist were then determined. These values are reported
as IC₅₀ concentrations in Table 1 and demonstrate that the compounds of the present
invention possess significant muscarinic activity.
[0044] A second screening assay, designated PIT, determined the activity of representative
compounds of the present invention as muscarinic agonists. In this assay, rat cortex
slices bearing muscarinic binding sites were incubated with the test compound. The
production of inositol phosphates was then measured. Stimulation of phosphatidyl
inositol turnover reflects the degree of muscarinic agonist activity of the tested
compound. The values indicating percent stimulation of phosphatidyl inositol turnover,
relative to carbachol, (PIT) appear in Table 2.
[0045] In the scopolamine induced swimming test (SIS), the ability of representative compounds
of the present invention to reverse the hyperactive swimming behavior of laboratory
rats given scopolamine was assessed. In this test, untreated rats will generally
swim between 20 to 30 meters during a five minute test period. Rats given scopolamine
at does of 0.1 mg/kg develop a stereo- typical swimming hyperactivity with the swimming
distances generally increasing by 75-125% above base- line values. This increase in
swimming hyperactivity can be reversed by administration of physostigmine or the cholinergic
agonist, arecoline. The effect of scopolamine is centrally mediated; the ability of
a test compound to reverse the hyperactive swimming behavior induced by scopolamine
is thus a measure of the central cholinergic activity of the compound.

[0046] The minimal effective dose (MED) for several representative compounds of this invention
required to demonstrate reversal of the scopolamine-induced hyperactive swimming activity
in laboratory rats is presented in Table 3.

[0047] The antiwrithing (AW) test provides preliminary assessment of compounds with potential
analgesic activity. The test is performed with male Swiss-Webster mice. Compounds
are administered in aqueous 0.2% methylcellulose or other appropriate vehicles in
volumes of 10 ml/kg. Dosages represent active moiety.
[0048] Acetic acid (0.6%, 10 ml/kg) is injected intraperitoneally after administration of
the compound.
[0049] Writhing movements are counted for five minutes starting seven minutes after the
acetic acid injection. Data are expressed as ED₅₀ values, where the ED₅₀ is the dose
necessary to suppress writhing by 50% relative to vehicle controls. ED₅₀ values are
calculated by nonlinear regression analysis.
[0050] In the antiwrithing analgesia test, compound of the present invention, 1-(1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methyl-3-pyridinyl)ethanone
oxime, demonstrated an ED₅₀ value of 1.1 mg/kg upon intraperitoneal dosing.
[0051] In therapeutic use as agents for treating pain or for treating cerebral insufficiency,
the compounds utilized in the pharmaceutical method of this invention are administered
to the patient at dosage levels of from 0.7 to 7000 mg per day. For a normal human
adult of approximately 70 kg of body weight, this translates into a dosage of from
0.01 to 100 mg/kg of body weight per day. The specific dosages employed, however,
may be varied depending upon the requirements of the patient, the severity of the
condition being treated, and the activity of the compound being employed. The determination
of optimum dosages for a particular situation is within the skill of the art.
[0052] For preparing pharmaceutical compositions from the compounds of this invention, inert,
pharmaceutically acceptable carriers can be either solid or liquid. Solid form preparations
include powders, tablets, dispersable granules, capsules, cachets, and suppositories.
[0053] A solid carrier can be one or more substances which may also act as diluents, flavoring
agents, solubilizers, lubricants, suspending agents, binders, or tablet disintegrating
agents; it can also be an encapsulating material.
[0054] In powders, the carrier is a finely divided solid which is in a mixture with the
finely divided active component. In tablets, the active compound is mixed with the
carrier having the necessary binding properties in suitable proportions and compacted
in the shape and size desired.
[0055] For preparing suppositories, a low-melting wax such as a mixture of fatty acid glycerides
and cocoa butter is first melted, and the active ingredient is dispersed therein by,
for example, stirring. The molten homogeneous mixture is then poured into convenient
sized molds and allowed to cool and solidify.
[0056] Powders and tablets preferably contain between about 5 to about 70% by weight of
the active ingredient. Suitable carriers are magnesium carbonate, magnesium stearate,
talc, lactose, sugar, pectin, dextrin, starch, tragacanth, methyl cellulose, sodium
carboxymethyl cellulose, a low-melting wax, cocoa butter, and the like.
[0057] The term "preparation" is intended to include the formulation of the active compound
with encapsulating material as a carrier providing a capsule in which the active component
(with or without other carriers) is surrounded by a carrier, which is thus in association
with it. In a similar manner, cachets are also included.
[0058] Tablets, powders, cachets, and capsules can be used as solid dosage forms suitable
for oral administration.
[0059] Liquid form preparations include solutions suitable for oral or parenteral administration,
or suspensions, and emulsions suitable for oral administration. Sterile water solutions
of the active component or sterile solutions of the active component in solvents comprising
water, ethanol, or propylene glycol may be mentioned as examples of liquid preparations
suitable for parenteral administration.
[0060] Sterile solutions may be prepared by dissolving the active component in the desired
solvent system, and then passing the resulting solution through a membrane filter
to sterilize it or, alternatively, by dissolving the sterile compound in a previously
sterilized solvent under sterile conditions.
[0061] Aqueous solutions for oral administration can be prepared by dissolving the active
compound in water and adding suitable flavorants, coloring agents, stabilizers, and
thickening agents as desired. Aqueous suspensions for oral use can be made by dispersing
the finely divided active component in water together with a viscous material such
as natural or synthetic gums, resins, methyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose,
and other suspending agents known to the pharmaceutical formulation art.
[0062] Preferably, the pharmaceutical preparation is in unit dosage form. In such form,
the preparation is divided into unit doses containing appropriate quantities of the
active component. The unit dosage form can be a packaged preparation, the package
containing discrete quantities of the preparation, for example, packeted tablets,
capsules, and powders in vials or ampoules. The unit dosage form can also be a capsule,
cachet, or tablet itself, or it can be the appropriate number of any of these packaged
forms.
[0063] The compounds of the present invention may also be co-administered when desired with
anticholinergic agents, for example, atropine, methylatropine, glycopyrrolate, scopolamine,
methylscopolamine, pirenzepine, and AF-DX-116, to reduce cholinergic side effects.
[0064] The following preparative examples are provided to enable one skilled in the art
to practice the invention. They are illustrative of the present invention and are
not to be read as limiting the scope of the invention as it is defined by the appended
claims.
Examples of General Synthetic Methods and Preparation of Starting Materials
Example 1
Representative Example of the Conversion of a Pyridine Carboxaldehyde to a Ketopyridine - Preparation of 1-(3-Pyridinyl)propanone
[0065] 3-Pyridinecarboxaldehyde (10.71 g, 100 mmol) was dissolved in 200 ml of tetrahydrofuran
under a nitrogen atmosphere and cooled to -30°C. Ethylmagnesium bromide (100 mmol,
2.0 molar in tetrahydrofuran) was slowly added, after which the mixture was stirred
at -30°C for one hour. Saturated ammonium chloride solution was added and the mixture
was allowed to warm to room temperature. Diethyl ether (200 ml) was added and the
organic layer was separated, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, and evaporated
to yield the intermediate carbinol as a yellow oil. This material was taken up in
500 ml of toluene, and 26.1 g (300 mmol) of manganese dioxide was added. The resulting
mixture was heated under reflux for two hours under a nitrogen atmosphere in a flask
fitted with a Dean Stark trap to collect water which was azeotropically removed.
[0066] The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and diluted by the addition of
diethyl ether. The reaction mixture is filtered and the solvents were removed from
the filtrate under vacuum and the crude product purified by chromatography on a silica
gel column, eluting with 1:1 hexane/ethyl acetate to produce 7.09 g of 1-(3-pyridinyl)-1-propanone.
Example 2
Representative Example of the Conversion of a Pyridinecarbonyl Chloride to a Ketopyridine - Preparation of 1-(3-Pyridinyl)pentanone
[0067] Copper(I) iodide (3.8 g, 2.0 mmol) was suspended in 30 ml of dry tetrahydrofuran
which Was then cooled to -40°C. n-Butyl lithium solution (16 ml, 2.5 molar in tetrahydrofuran)
was added and the mixture further cooled to -78°C and stirred for one hour. 3-Pyridinecarbonyl
chloride hydrochloride (1.78 g, 10 mmol) was quickly added, and the resulting mixture
was allowed to slowly warm to room temperature. The reaction was quenched by the addition
of 2 ml of methanol, and the mixture partitioned between diethyl ether and 1:1 saturated
aqueous ammonium chloride/aqueous ammonia.
[0068] This mixture was stirred until the aqueous layer became dark blue (copper ammonia
complex), after which the layers were separated. The organic layer was washed successively
with portions of 10% aqeuous Na₂S₂O₃, water, and brine, and then dried over anhydrous
magnesium sulfate. The solvent was removed under vacuum and the crude product chromatographed
on silica gel, eluting with 70% hexane in ethyl acetate, to yield 0.80 g of 1-(3-pyridinyl)-1-pentanone.
Example 3
Representative Example of the Preparation of a Ketopyridine by the Swern Oxidation
of an Intermediate Carbinol Prepared via Grignard Reaction - Preparation of 2-Methyl-1-(3-pyridinyl)-1-propanone
[0069] Oxalyl chloride was distilled under a nitrogen atmosphere immediately prior to use;
10.93 g (86.13 mmol) was dissolved in 200 ml of dichloromethane. This mixture was
cooled, under a nitrogen atmosphere, to -50°C and 13.45 g (12.22 ml, 172.3 mmol) of
dry dimethylsulfoxide in 50 ml of dichloromethane were slowly added. The resulting
mixture was stirred at -50°C for ten minutes. α-(1-Methylethyl)-3-pyridinemethanol
(11.84 g, 78.3 mmol, previously prepared by reaction of 3-pyridinecarboxaldehyde with
isopropylmagnesium bromide) in 50 ml of dichloromethane was added. This mixture was
stirred at -50°C for one hour, after which time 39.6 g (54.57 ml, 391.5 mmol) of triethylamine
were added. This mixture was allowed to slowly warm to room temperature.
[0070] Water (300 ml) was added to the mixture, and the layers were separated. The water
layer was extracted twice with dichloromethane, and the organic solutions were combined,
washed with successive portions of 10% aqueous sodium carbonate solution, and brine,
and then dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The solvents were removed under vacuum,
and the crude product was chromatographed over silica gel, eluting with 15% ethyl
acetate in chloroform to yield 10.3 g of 2-methyl-1-(3-pyridinyl)-1-propanone.
Example 4
Representative Example of the Conversion of a Ketopyridine to a Keto-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine - Preparation of 1-(1,2,5,6-Tetrahydro-1-methyl-3-pyridinyl)-1-pentanone
[0071] 1-(3-Pyridinyl)-1-pentanone (4.53 g, 27.75 mmol, prepared as described in Example
2 above), 1,2-ethanediol (2.58 g, 2.32 ml, 41.63 mmol), and
p-toluenesulfonic acid (6.3 g, 33.3 mmol) were dissolved in 50 ml of toluene at room
temperature. This mixture was heated under reflux for twenty hours in a flask fitted
with a Dean Stark trap to collect azeotropically distilled water.
[0072] After this time, the mixture was cooled and poured into 10% aqueous sodium carbonate
solution and the resulting mixture diluted with diethyl ether. The organic layer was
separated, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, and evaportaed to yield the crude
ethylene ketal as an orange oil. The crude product was purified by chromatography
over silica gel, eluting with 70% hexane in ethyl acetate to produce 4.22 g of the
pure material.
[0073] The ethylene ketal was mixed with 10 ml of methyl iodide and stirred at room temperature
for three days. The excess methyl iodide was removed under vacuum, and the residue
triturated with diethyl ether to obtain 6.78 g of the
N-methylpyridinium ethylene ketal iodide.
[0074] The
N-methylpyridinium ethylene ketal iodide was dissolved in 60 ml of absolute ethanol
under nitrogen, and 0.81 g of sodium borohydride were slowly added, keeping the temperature
of the reaction mixture under 25°C. This was followed by addition of another 1.32
g of sodium borohydride. This mixture was stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes,
after which time the mixture was heated under reflux for thirty minutes.
[0075] The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and 21 ml of 6 M aqueous hydrochloric
acid were slowly added. After addition of the acid was complete, the resulting mixture
was heated under reflux for one hour and then cooled to room temperature. The alcohol
was removed under vacuum leaving a yellowish slurry.
[0076] Fifty ml of water were added, followed by the slow addition of 20 g of potassium
carbonate. The resulting mixture was extracted twice with diethyl ether and the extract
was dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The ether was evaporated and the residue
was purified by column chromatography over silica gel, eluting with 5% methanol in
diethyl ether, to yield 2 g of 1-(1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methyl-3-pyridinyl)-1-pentanone
as a yellow oil. This material was reacted with oxalic acid to yield 1.3 g of the
ethanedioate salt, mp 171-172°C.
Example 5
Representative Example of the Preparation of a 1,2,5,6-Tetrahydropyridine Oxime by
the Oximination of a Keto-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine - Preparation of 1-(1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methyl-3-pyridinyl)-1-pentanone oxime
[0077] To a solution of 1.09 g (6.01 mmol) of 1-(1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methyl-3-pyridinyl)-1-pentanone
(prepared as described in Example 4 above) in 6 ml of methanol were added 0.42 g (6.1
mmol) of hydroxylamine hydrochloride. The resulting mixture was heated under reflux
for 12 hours, cooled, and stirred at room temperature for three days. The solvent
was removed under vacuum and chloroform and dilute aqueous ammonium hydroxide solution
were added. The chloroform layer was separated, washed with water until it tested
neutral, and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The chloroform was removed under
vacuum and the residual dark oil was taken up in diethyl ether. This solution was
filtered through silica gel and the ether removed under vacuum. The residue was reacted
with oxalic acid to produce 1-(1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methyl-3-pyridinyl)-1-pentanone
oxime, ethanedioate salt, mp 91-95°C.
Example 6
Representative Example of the Conversion of a Ketopyridine to a 1-Methyl-ketoxime-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine
via the Ketopyridine Oxime - Preparation of 1-(1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methylpyridinyl)ethanone oxime
Step 1 - Preparation of 1-(3-pyridinyl)ethanone oxime
[0078] A mixture of 50 g (0.41 mol) of 1-(3-pyridinyl)-ethanone and 29 g (0.42 mol) of
hydroxylamine hydrochloride in 250 ml of methanol was heated under reflux for five
hours. Upon cooling to room temperature, a white solid separated from the reaction
mixture. This material was collected by filtration and the filtrate was concentrated
to yield additional white solid. The combined solids were dissolved in water and the
solution was made weakly basic by the addition of sodium bicarbonate solution while
cooling. The white precipitate which formed was separated by filtration to yield 55.4
g of 1-(3-pyridinyl)ethanone oxime, mp 115-117°C.
Step 2 - Preparation of 1-(3-pyridinyl)ethanone oxime methiodide
[0079] 1-(3-pyridinyl)ethanone oxime (8.8 g, 0.073 mol) was dissolved in 500 ml of acetonitrile
and 10 ml (0.16 mol) of methyl iodide were added. The resulting mixture was heated
under reflux for 4 hours and then cooled to room temperature. The white precipitate
was collected by filtration to yield 16.45 g of 1-(3-pyridinyl)ethanone oxime methiodide,
mp 219-220°C.
Step 3 - Preparation of 1-(1,2,5,6-tetrahydro1-methylpyridinyl)ethanone oxime
[0080] To a suspension of 5 g of sodium borohydride in 100 ml of 50:50 water/methanol was
added, in a dropwise manner, 50 ml of a solution of 19.5 g (0.07 mol) of 1-(3-pyridinyl)ethanone
oxime methiodide dissolved in 50 ml of 50:50 water/methanol while maintaining the
temperature between -5°C and 0°C.
[0081] The mixture was then allowed to warm to room temperature and was diluted with 200
ml of water. This mixture was stirred for a few minutes and the light yellow precipitate
which formed was collected by filtration to yield 7.83 g of 1-(1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methylpyridinyl)ethanone
oxime, mp 154-157°C.
Preparative Examples for Compounds of the Present Invention
Example 7
Preparation of 3-Phenyl-1-(1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methyl-3-pyridinyl)propanone Oxime
Step 1 - Preparation of 3-phenyl-1-(3-pyridinyl)-lpropanone
[0082] Employing the general method of Example 1 above, 21.42 g (0.225 mol) of pyridine-3-carboxaldehyde
and 27.3 ml (0.200 mol) of 2-phenylethyl bromide were converted by Grignard reaction
to 40 g (94%) of (2-phenyl-3-pyridinyl)methanol and then oxidized by the action of
manganese dioxide to yield a mixture of 3-phenyl-1-(3-pyridinyl)-1-propanone and 3-phenyl-1-(3-pyridinyl)-2-propen-1-one.
This mixture was reduced by hydrogen over Raney nickel to produce 17.1 g of 3-phenyl-1-(3-pyridinyl)-1-propanone.
Step 2 - Preparation of 3-phenyl-1-(1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methyl-3-pyridinyl)-1-propanone
oxime
[0084] Employing the general methods of Examples 4 and 6 above, 10 g (47.3 mmol) of 3-phenyl-1-(3-pyridinyl)-1-propanone
were first converted by the action of methyl iodide to the
N-methylpyridinium iodide and then reduced by the action of sodium borohydride to produce
3-phenyl-1-(1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methyl-3-pyridinyl)-1-propanone which was isolated
as the hydrochloride salt (5.2 g, 58%), mp 195-197°C.
Example 8
Preparation of 1-(1,2,5,6-Tetrahydro-1-methyl-3-pyridinyl)-3-butyne-1-one Oxime
Step 1 - Preparation of 4-trimethylsilyl-3-butyne-1-ol
[0085] A solution of 2 mol of ethyl magnesium bromide (2.0 molar solution in tetrahydrofuran)
is cooled in an ice bath and a solution of 50.5 g of 3-butyn-1-ol (0.72 mol) in 50
ml of tetrahydrofuran is slowly added. After addition is complete, the mixture was
allowed to warm to room temperature and was stirred overnight. The mixture was then
cooled in an ice bath and 254 ml (2 mol) of chlorotrimethylsilane was slowly added.
This mixture was heated under reflux for two hours and then cooled to 20°C and 800
ml of 1.4 M aqueous sulfuric acid were added. The mixture was extracted with diethyl
ether and the ether solution was dried and concentrated under vacuum. The residue
was distilled to yield 72.8 g of 4-trimethylsilyl-3-butyne-1-ol, bp 43-48°C at 1 mm
Hg.
Step 2 - Preparation of 4-Bromo-1-trimethylsilyl-1-butyne
[0086] 4-Trimethylsilyl-3-butyne-1-ol (14.2 g, 0.1 mol) and 0.2 ml of pyridine were dissolved
in 50 ml of diethyl ether under a nitrogen atmosphere. Phosphorus tribromide (3.8
ml, 0.04 mol) was slowly added and the mixture was heated under reflux for 2 hours.
Isolation of the product by conventional means yielded 9.6 g of 4-bromo-1-trimethylsilyl-1-butyne
as a clear liquid, bp 35-38°C at mm Hg.
Step 3 - Preparation of (4-trimethylsilylbutyn-3-yl-3-pyridinyl)methanol
[0087] Employing the general method of Example 1 above, 10.7 g (0.1 mol) of pyridine-3-carboxaldehyde
and 20.5 g (0.1 mol) of 4-bromo-1-trimethylsilyl-1-butyne were converted by Grignard
reaction to 5.9 g (25%) of (4-trimethylsilylbutyn-3-yl-3-pyridinyl)methanol which
was employed without further purification.
Step 4 - Preparation of (3-butynyl-3-pyridinyl)methanol
[0088] Four ml of a 1.0 M solution of tetrabutylammonium fluoride in tetrahydrofuran was
added to 0.75 g (3.21 mmol) of (4-trimethylsilylbutyn-3-yl-3-pyridinyl)-methanol
in 3 ml of tetrahydrofuran and the resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature
for 30 minutes. Isolation of the product yielded 0.12 g of (3-butynyl-3-pyridinyl)methanol
as a brown oil.
Step 5 - Preparation of 1-(3-pyridinyl)-3-butyn-1-one
[0089] Employing the Swern oxidation method of Example 3 above, 4.8 g (29.9 mmol) of (3-butynyl-3-pyridinyl)-methanol
was oxidized to 2.95 g (62%) of 1-(3-pyridinyl)-3-butyn-1-one.
Step 6 - Preparation of 1-(3-pyridinyl)-3-butyne-1-one oxime
[0090] Employing the general method of Example 5 above, 2.95 g (18.5 mmol) of 1-(3-pyridinyl)-3-butyne-1-one
was converted to 2.1 g (66%) of the corresponding oxime by reaction with hydroxylamine
hydrochloride.
Step 7 - Preparation of 1-(1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methyl-3-pyridinyl)-3-butyne-1-one
oxime
[0091] Employing the general method of Example 6 above, 2.12 g (12.2 mmol) of 1-(3-pyridinyl)-3-butyne-1-one
oxime were converted to the corresponding 1-methyl pyridinium iodide and subsequently
reduced by the action of sodium borohydride to produce 1.2 g of 1-(1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methyl-3-pyridinyl)-3-butyne-1-one
oxime which was isolated as the ethanedioate salt, mp 55-57°C.
Example 9
Preparation of 4-Methoxy-1-(1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methyl-3-pyridinyl)-1-butanone Oxime
Step 1 - Preparation of 4-Chloro-1-methoxybutane
[0092] 4-Chloropropanol (47.3 g, 0.5 mol) and 62.2 ml (1 mol) of methyl iodide were dissolved
in 300 ml of tetrahydrofuran and the resulting solution was cooled in an ice bath.
A suspension of 40 g (1 mol) of sodium hydride in oil was slowly added. When addition
was complete, the reaction mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature and was
stirred overnight.
[0093] The mixture was again cooled in an ice bath and 150 ml of water were added to quench
the reaction. The organic layer was separated, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate,
and the solvent evaporated under vacuum. The residue was distilled to yield 27.6 g
of 4-chloro-1-methoxybutane, bp 111-113°C.
Step 2 - Preparation of 3-(Methoxypropyl)-3-pyridinylmethanol
[0094] Following the general method of Example 1, 21.7 g (0.2 mol) of 4-chloro-1-methoxypropane
and 21.4 g ().2 mol) of pyridine-3-carboxaldehyde were converted to 18.87 g (52%)
of (4-methoxypropyl-3-pyridinyl)methanol.
Step 3 - Preparation of 4-methoxy-1-(1-methyl-3-pyridinyl)butanone
[0095] Employing the Swern oxidation method of Example 3, 25.67 g (0.142 mol) of (4-methoxypropyl-3-pyridinyl)methanol
were converted to 17.6 g (69%) of 4-methoxy- 1-(1-methyl-3-pyridinyl)butanone as
a yellow oil which was used without further purification.
Step 4 - Preparation of 4-methoxy-1-(1-methyl-3-pyridinyl)butanone oxime
[0096] Employing the general method of Example 5, 8.96 g (50 mmol) of 1-(1-methyl-3-pyridinyl)butanone
was converted to the corresponding oxime by reaction with 3.82 g (55 mmol) of hydroxylamine
hydrochloride. The product (9.5 g, 98%) was isolated as a thick reddish oil which
was used without further purification.
Step 5 - Preparation of 1-(1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methyl-3-pyridinyl)-4-methoxybutanone
oxime
[0097] Employing the general method of Example 6 above, 9.5 g (49 mmol) of 4-methoxy-1-(1-methyl-3-pyridinyl)butanone
oxime were first converted to 16.5 g of the
N-methyl pyridinium iodide salt and then reduced to 1-(1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methyl-3-pyridinyl)-4-methoxybutanone
oxime by the action of sodium borohydride.
[0098] The title compound was isolated as the ethanedioate salt, mp 114-116°C.
[0099] Employing the methods detailed above, the following additional compounds were prepared:
